Eight of Air
The Eight of Air energies prompt: Know your limits and respect them. Proclaim your truth. Walk out through the gate.
Eight of Air: Swords
The Eight of Air energies manifest in Licorice.
Licorice
What holds us back is not always clear. Are you feeling fenced in by the circumstances of your life? Staying isolated seems safe, but like this overgrown garden, it could become a prison of your own making.
Know your limits; there is no shame in saying no. Constant internal dialogue may have silenced you, but your body can no longer hold that story inside.
Take responsibility for your thoughts and clear a path to freedom.
Licorice heals the vocal cords. Speak your truth aloud to others; it will give you power. A power shared is a power multiplied. Licorice medicine is soft and sweet; be kind to yourself as you meet your boundaries head on.
Qualities
| Positive | Negative |
| escape freedom release finding solutions/ options relief taking control | feeling trapped restricted back into a corner hands tied victimized paralyzed by fear/terror anxiety feeling pressure hopeless helpless powerless silenced crisis dilemma drama imprisonment punishment slavery |
Crafting With the Eight of Air
The Eights feature plants whose roots are used as medicine. Drawing deep into the earth, they accumulate rich nutrients. They can be difficult to grow; like the trees, the must establish themselves for several years before they can be sustainably harvested. The roots are collected in the fall when it is cold and wet. We must work to gain access to their medicine.
The final mini-drama presents an internal challenge. The herbcrafter has accepted her higher calling from the trees but. now questions her ability to fulfill her destiny. The herbs of the Eights pull her into a deeper inquiry as she confronts her relationship to her own nature. She will be faced with speaking her truth, trusting her instincts, walking away and restoring her self-worth. her weaknesses become allies that, as she gets to the root of each one, ground and strengthens her for the challenges ahead. The Eights spark action that lead to true self-awareness.
Craft
- Make a licorice root talisman to reinforce boundaries.
- Drink licorice tea to strengthen your voice.
- Write thank you notes to friends who hold the gates of compassion open when you feel trapped.
Mini Meditation
Meditation
Get into a relaxing position and close your eyes, make sure you are a comfortable temperature and not likely to be interrupted.
- Take three deep breaths
- Feel your tension melting away.
Imagine yourself doing one of the crafts mentioned above. Use your imagination. Make it as elaborate or as simple as you like. Have whomever you would like to be there come and share the time with you.
Imagine what it would look and feel like, as if it were really happening. Use your five senses and imagine all the sensory details as though you are really there.
Be creative and indulge in this moment.
Spend as long as you like in this visualization and feel the benefits of crafting with nature. Think about your meditation as often as you like as you go through your day. If possible, create it in reality.
The Herbcrafter
Herbcrafter
An herbcrafter is an afficianada of the botanical realm. She is in love with plants and longs to know them more deeply.
Her approach is driven by a playful, wild spirit.
The herbcrafter embraces the plant world as her teacher and friend through observation and botany, gardening and wildcrafting, medicine and kitchen craft, fiber arts and weaving, art and magic.
She recognizes herself as part of nature. She seeks reciprocity in all things. Through the relationship with the botanical world, she learns how plants and people can be of service to one another.
″‘I discovered that maybe it was fate all along, that faith was just an illusion that somehow you’re in control.
Amy Tan